Dave Says: The car has got to go!

Friday

May 21, 2010 at 1:24 PMMar 27, 2013 at 7:49 AM

Dave Ramsey

Dear Dave,

My husband is in the middle of serving a five-year prison sentence. We have a nine-year-old son, and we've sold our home and everything else of value just to get by and pay off debts. I've managed to pay off almost everything, but we still have about $20,000 in debt from credit cards and a car note. Our rent is $375 a month, and the car payment is $400. He was making about $100,000 a year before he was incarcerated, and the only income we have now is my monthly disability check of $1,478. Should I file Chapter 13 bankruptcy?

Samantha

Dear Samantha,

I'm really sorry you and your family have been put through all this. You've endured a real mess the last few years, and I know you've fought like crazy to keep things afloat the entire time.

First, there's no reason for you to file bankruptcy. Chapter 13 is a payment plan, and right now you can't make payments, keep your lights on, and feed your child. The credit card companies can wait. I'm not going to beat you up over those last two debts, especially after all the stuff you've been through and done, but there's no way a car payment fits into your life, kiddo. You need a little $1,000, paid-for car, not a car payment. You can't raise a nine-year-old on $1,478 a month when more than half of that goes out the door for rent and a car payment. I want to get you back on solid ground so you can start growing again. I don't have a magic wand that will turn $1,400 into $14,000, but I do want to pierce through your pain and love you enough to help you realize that you need to look at the figures and do some math. You're not stupid, Samantha. You're an amazingly courageous person. But you do need to sell that stupid car!